Five candidates are officially registered to run for the Zambia presidency, their participation has been confirmed by the country's electoral commission. These will be Zambia's fourth presidential and general elections since multi-party politics replaced eighteen years of Kenneth Kaunda's one party state in 1991. Before that and just five years after independence in 1973, the main opposition party, the African National Congress had been dissolved and other political parties banned. Zambian producer and presenter Maureen Nkandu-Mundea explains a bit more about the men on the campaign trail in 2006.
Hakainde Hichilema is a businessman and newcomer to the political scene in Zambia. What political party is he fronting?
Godfrey Miyanda is running for the Heritage party.Maureen has some more information about the candidate.
President Levy Mwanawasa is the head of the ruling party, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy and the incumbent leader.Has his popularity held up since the last election?
Kenny Ngondo leads the All People's Congress.What is known about him?
Michael Sata is leading the Patriotic Front and has bags of experience in Zambian politics.What kind of reputation does he have in Zambia?
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BBC Focus on Africa